How Young is Too Young

[BrianAltenhofel]

I've been doing the sound at our church, mornings and evenings, weddings, and funerals since I was 11. I started because they needed someone to push a fader one Sunday evening. I only did 3 or 4 evening services before I did my first morning service unsupervised. I learned how to do audio through curiosity (oh, these knobs labelled "low" and "high" do this! cool!), and that curiosity lead me to research more online.

It wasn't without its trials due to my age, though. From the time I started until I was out of high school at around 19, it wasn't uncommon to be told by people, mostly from outside the church, whether they were performers from other churches or, in some cases the leaders of a revival, that I was too young and they weren't comfortable with me being up there in the booth.

I just finished my 13th year up there.

[[Admin] osborn4]

Thank you, Brian, for your continuing service. You serve as a model of servanthood.

[SamG269]

My story is similar to Brian's. I am a PK. Grew up in church. Started playing drums at 11. There was nobody who ran our sound and we always had trouble with it so I started teaching myself how to use it. Started by watching the other guys that barely knew what they we're doing and in my free time I would play with the system. As I went on learning I found our system was in bad shape. So I began letting my parents know that we needed to upgrade. Our funds have always been limited but we've been able to make due with what we have. We started with one church.

We now have 3 churches. Our sound systems are almost completely up to date with what is a standard system. What we did was when are largest location got something new the component would then move on the next church in line.

Anyways. I'm now 23 and am looking at a career in the audio/video production. I think for me the biggest thing with teaching someone young is going to definitely be the interest they have in it. They are young. They care about what's cool. If you notice most cases here are that we started because of need AND interest. We heard or saw something that we liked. If you start teaching a kid make sure you keep the cool factor on because if its all work and no play he will run out. Same with all of us. If we don't enjoy what we do we would quit.

When I teach drums I also look for a couple things that I think should apply and can apply to other areas as well. I teach and I study my student to see if they have the basics. Rhythm, tempo, timing. Its ok that they don't get to jamming in a month. but if I don't see those basic talents in them I know one of 2 things. 1. They are not fit to play drums. And 2. They may have the gift but it is going to cost them lots of time and effort. With other areas of media I think its the same. If you don't have an eye to see that the camera is out of focus don't run the camera. If your lighting is making people go into an epilepsy attack get of the light board. If you don't have an ear to hear that the guitar is drowning everyone out then get of the mixer... In other words everything does take some level of talent and there are necessary requirements to be in these positions. But like everyone else says on here and have proven, take the time to find these talents and gifts. Don't kill them before they have time to come out. Who knows? You could have the next George Lucas in your church.

[JoshGuerette]

Yeah, I'm about the same as a lot of other people. Got into sound for the morning kids service around Grade 8, then moved to the main services a couple years later because there were very little people available to do it. Now I do everything, video, lighting, audio, and it's really what got me into media and why I'm currently in a broadcasting program.

I don't think any age is too young, rather just maturity and self-control. If someone can do it at 12, great let them do it. The only problem I've ever run into is the relationships with other team members. A 45 year old guy who's "been on the team" for 15 years sometimes has a hard time adjusting to, or especially taking instruction from, a 15 or 16 year old. It's only now, I'm almost 19, that I feel that I have the mutual respect of my fellow members.

[WI Consultant]

Hi, I have great confidence in our youth. We see many teenage heros in the bible.

I have started a drummer at 12, a keyboard player at 13 and a bassist at 11. The drummer and bass player (now 17 and 16) just returned from a nationwide tour playing worship at 55 venues.

Of course, their walk with God is of even more importance.

As far as the tech stuff, the youth have technical things as part of their DNA. Have you ever tried teaching a 60 year old how to run a computer or a sound console?

I say if you have young people who want to do it, and do it well, then lets train them and build the Kingdom of God!!

[jrsathre]

We're small so I only have 2 team members besides myself (at this point) They are both freshman in highschool and started while in Jr. High. I am a firm believer of encouraging young people who want to serve in ministry. Of course sometimes that means helping them realize that their gifts may lie in another area. My 2 young men are great, they are dependable, trustworthy and very good on the computer. Sometimes I have to keep them in check a bit, but they are always thinking and planning. I treat them the same as I would an adult and expect the same level of commitment from them. It seems to work well, I know it did for me when I was young.

[cgerrish]

I think as long as they are interested, you can find some place for them